Waverly Advisors LLC Has $2.22 Million Holdings in Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)

Waverly Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR - Free Report) by 54.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 7,942 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 2,813 shares during the period. Waverly Advisors LLC's holdings in Marriott International were worth $2,215,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Hopwood Financial Services Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Marriott International in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Bernard Wealth Management Corp. acquired a new stake in Marriott International in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Bell Investment Advisors Inc raised its position in Marriott International by 112.2% in the 4th quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 104 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC raised its position in Marriott International by 494.4% in the 4th quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 107 shares of the company's stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wingate Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Marriott International in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.70% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on MAR shares. UBS Group reduced their price target on Marriott International from $302.00 to $299.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 21st. Mizuho cut their price target on Marriott International from $293.00 to $285.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, May 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $245.00 target price (down previously from $313.00) on shares of Marriott International in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Marriott International from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their target price for the stock from $226.00 to $303.00 in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Marriott International from $285.00 to $277.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Marriott International currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $276.50.

Marriott International Price Performance

MAR traded down $0.26 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $265.84. 409,889 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,603,649. The business's 50 day moving average price is $241.92 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $266.55. The company has a market capitalization of $72.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.95, a P/E/G ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 1.39. Marriott International, Inc. has a 1 year low of $204.55 and a 1 year high of $307.52.

Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The company reported $2.32 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.25 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $6.26 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.19 billion. Marriott International had a negative return on equity of 116.67% and a net margin of 9.46%. Marriott International's quarterly revenue was up 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.13 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Marriott International, Inc. will post 10.1 EPS for the current year.

Marriott International Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, May 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.67 per share. This represents a $2.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.01%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 23rd. This is a boost from Marriott International's previous quarterly dividend of $0.63. Marriott International's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.52%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Benjamin T. Breland sold 1,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $270.21, for a total value of $270,210.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 20,724 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,599,832.04. The trade was a 4.60% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 10.68% of the company's stock.

Marriott International Profile

Marriott International, Inc engages in operating, franchising, and licensing hotel, residential, timeshare, and other lodging properties worldwide. It operates its properties under the JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, St. Regis, EDITION, Bvlgari, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Westin, Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels, Le Méridien, Delta Hotels by Marriott, Tribute Portfolio, Gaylord Hotels, Design Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Aloft Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott, Moxy Hotels, Element Hotels, Protea Hotels by Marriott, City Express by Marriott, and St.